Travels in the Mogul Empire (Bernier) 3.4.7

3.4.7

In vain did I for a long time exert myself in behalf of these despised personages; they were regarded as beggars, and could excite no interest. One day, however, when closeted with my Agah Danechmend-kan, who is minister for foreign affairs, I expatiated so successfully upon the grandeur of the Ethiopian Monarch, that Aureng-Zebe was induced to grant the ambassadors an audience, and to receive their letters. He presented both with a Ser-apah, or vest of brocade, a silken and embroidered girdle, and a turban of the same materials and workmanship; gave orders for their maintenance; and at an audience, when the Emperor gave them their congé, which soon took place, he invested each with another Ser-apah; and made them a present of six thousand roupies, equal at present to nearly three thousand crowns; but this money was unequally divided, the Mahometan receiving four thousand roupies, and Murat, because a Christian, only two thousand.